Michael Vick did an interview with GQ that's set to come out tomorrow and what is likely to be the biggest takeaway is his revelation that he didn't really want to sign with the Eagles, but the NFL and Roger Goodell kinda made him.
"I think I can say this now, because it's not going to hurt anybody's feelings, and it's the truth... I didn't want to come to Philadelphia. Being the third-team quarterback is nothing to smile about. Cincinnati and Buffalo were better options."
Those two teams wanted him and would've allowed him to start, but after meeting with commissioner Roger Goodell and other reps from the NFL, Vick was convinced—and granted league approval—to sign with Philly. "And I commend and thank them, because they put me in the right situation."
While I get that this is a newsworthy admission and certainly it's interesting that he actually confirmed that this is what happened, but didn't we all basically assume that this was the case? There were strong implications from Tony Dungy and elsewhere that Vick would really only be allowed back in the NFL if it was in the right situation. Clearly, they all said that was the Eagles afterward and in hindsight it clearly was.
Now, that said, I'd be pretty pissed if I was a Buffalo or Cincy fan right now. Of course, we can't assume Vick would have turned into the player he is now if he were in either of those situations, in fact I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have. However, you'd rather have Michael Vick than not and even if he was just the Michael Vick of old, a team like the Bills would probably be better off than they are now.
And from Vick's perspective, that had to be pretty frustrating. He says he realizes in hindsight that not being thrown back into the fire was the right thing for him, but at the time if there was two teams offering starting jobs and the league is telling you have to go to a team that not only already has a "franchise" type QB in place but also a young, "QB of the future" that obviously had to be frustrating.
It's almost funny to think about in hindsight. Here's a guy that was the runner up for league MVP last year and two years ago he was being used in wildcat packages and wouldn't even have been called upon to start if Donovan McNabb got hurt. He was behind Kevin Kolb, who at that point had really never done anything. Then last year, he was Kevin Kolb's backup. But, since he's been out things have had a way of working out for Michael Vick.
Obviously we're all happy the NFL steered him our way and it certainly has worked out well for all parties involved, but I certainly wouldn't feel that was if I was in Buffalo or Cincinnati right now.